Tube-forming machine.



VV. W. STOLER.

TUBE FORMING MACHINE.

APPL1CA110N FILED 11111120.1915.

'Patent-ed July 18, 11111;.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w. w. STOLER.

v TUBE FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. |915.

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

www@ W. I0Ier',

lul

@wi/Immo@ w. w. STOLER. TUBE FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILF MAY 20. 1915.

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. W. STOLER.

T'uE-FoRMlNG MAcHmE.4 APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1915. I

Patented July 18, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

S I Q k `WARREN w. STOLER, or DETROIT,l MICHIGAN, AslfsI'cfrIv'oIiv y'ro' AMICAN I'OGING se SOCKET OO., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

TUBE-FORMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters atent.

Appiieation med May 2O, i915. seiia'i No'. aia-,402.

To all/whom t may concern.' y f Be it known that I, VVARmeN W. STOLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county oflvayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube- Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the automobile industry, vehicle tops arev made having wooden bows withthe ends thereof provided with sockets and the greater part of said sockets is formed of tapering tubes or casings. It is the manufacture of these taperingtubes or bow sockets to which my invention relates.

First, my invention aims to provide a novel machine wherein positive and reliable means are employed, in a manner as hereinafter set forth. for expeditiously .and economically producing tapered tubes, light in weight and possessing suiiicient rigidity to cooperate with a wooden frame in providing a rigid and durable bow. Second, my invention aims to provide a machine wherein a tapering fianged blank or piece of skelpv can be successively operated upon to' shape the blank into a tapering tube having a closed seam within the periphery of the tube.

Third.-m v invention aims to provide a bow socket forming machine wherein the parts are constructed with a view ofreducing the cost of manufacture and at the same time. retain thc features by which a'ccuracy, simplicity and case of fabrication are secured.

The principal elements` of my inventionnamely, a main frame. bed platcand dies; a vertically reciprocable mandrel, its support and operating mechanism; a mandrel" follower and its operating mechanism;,tube overlapping members and their actuating means: a tube ejector and-itsoperating mechanism, the controlling mechanism of the machine and the operation ofproducinga 'tube-will be hereinafter separately and specifically described in detail, together with the novel arrangement and objects accomplished from such a combination of`elements.'

In the drawings, Figure@ is a side elevation of the machine, partly broken away Patented July 18, 1916.

and partlyin section; Fig. 2 is a view of one end 'of theinachine; Fig. 3 isa cro's'sseetional view of .the I'nachinei taken on or about the line III-III of Fig. 1;- Fig. 4 is a ,horizontal sectional view of a portion of the machine, taken on or about thev line lIV -IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken onor about the line T-v of Fig. 4.; Fig. Gis a viewof the opposite end of the machine from that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portion of.th`e machine, illustrating the tube ejector; Fig. 8 is a plan of a `portion of a blank from which a. tube is formed; Fig.` 9 is an end view of the same; Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a mandrel; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the same; Fig, 12 isa similar view of a tapering tube formed b v the machine; Fig. 13 is an enlarged crossl sectional view of the same; Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the machine, illustrating a :blank in posiof the 'machiner as actually built, and that I do not care to confine my invention vto the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown. The following description is therefore to be broadly 'construed as including substitute constructions and arrangement of parts `which are obvious equivalent to those to be hereinafter referred to.

.lfd/in frame, bef] plate andA dies, (Figs.` 1 to (i inclusive.. )-In the drawings, .1 andi). denote end frames connected bya'tie rofd 3vr andl a bed plate 4. On the c ndv` f'the,"b,`,d plate Llare vertical guides 54a andy longitudinally of said bed plate are parallel walls 4?` having the `upper edges thereof bevJY eled or inclinedinwardly. See 3.' Between the walls 7 are dies 8 and 9 held against vertical displacement by bolts 10 extending through slots 11 provided therefor in the bed plate 4. The dies 8 and 9 are yieldably held in a horizontal plane by a plurality of coiled compression springs 12 arranged in sockets or recesses 13 provided therefor in the outer walls of said dies, and said springs are held under tension by screw bolts 14 adjustable in the walls 7 of the bed plate 4. The dies 8 and 9 have the upper faces thereof provided with transverse/ grooves 15 for adjustable retaining members 16 adapted to prevent lateral displacement of a blank placed upon said dies. Either one of the dies, preferablythe die 8, has a series of openings or sockets 17 for detachable re,- taining pins 18 adapted to prevent longitudinal displacement of a blank upon said die.A The retaining members and pins can ybe easily adjusted to properly position yblanks of various widths and lengths, and by reference to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be observed that the blank, as designated 19, is fiat and has tapering flanged edges; the taper of the blanky being from one end thereof to the opposite end and a hook shaped flange 20 at one side of the blank and a similarly shaped flange 21 at the opposite sides thereof. This v blank can be easily placed upon the .dies 8 and 9 and held by the retaining members and pins preparatory to receiving its initial formation. Between the dies 8 and'9 is a beveled raised portion 22 and detachably connected thereto by screws 23 or other fastening means is a liner 24 constituting a bottom die which coperates with the confronting walls of thefdies 8 and 9 in holding the blank19 during its` initial formation.

Ilamlrel, its support and operating meeham'sm, (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 11.)-The-guide 6 has a rectangular opening 25 and connect- 1 ed to the outer sideof said guide, at the sides of the opening 25, are guide-ways 26 for the l head 28 of a mandrel holder 2.9. The holder .29-'has a longitudinal bore and groove 30 to receive the shank 81 of a tapering mandrel 32 and said mandrel is detachably held in the holder 29 by a. set screw 33 ora fastening means which will `permit of said mandrel being removed and another size of mandrel substitutedtherefor. The. mandrel, as best shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is oval in cross section, and has the top and bottom thereof provided with longitudinal grooves 34 and 35, the latter being dov-etailed for a purpose that will hereinafter appear, under another caption.

' rlS-he holder 29 has a bifurcated extension 36,:resting upon an angle bracket 37 carried by .they inner side of a pitman 38 slidable inv .afbearingl39 secured to the outer side of the 'end frame 2. The lower end of the pitman side of'a cam 42 mounted upon a longitudinally disposed drive shaft 43, journaled in the end frames 1 and 2. Loose on the shaft 43 and adapted, at predeterminedv times for rotative continuity therewith, is a large gear wheel 44 meshing with asmall gear wheel 45 on a driven shaft 46, journaled in the end frames 1 and 2, said shaft having an end thereof provided with a belt Wheel 47 whereby the shaft can be driven from a suitable source of power.

l lVith the extension 3G of the mandrel holder resting upon the bracket 37 of the pitman 38, it is apparent that the mandrel holder can be raised when the pitman 38 is raised through the medium of the cam 42, and as the mandrel holder can descend by gravity and in synchronism with the pitman 38, it is possible to vertically reciprocate the mandrel and move the same to and from the dies 8 and 9.

Mandrel follower anal its operating meeham'sm, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, an'd 6.)-The confronting sides of the guides 5 and 6 are provided With vertical grooves 48 to receive bifurcated tongues 49 of a vertical reciprocable head 50. At the upper ends of the tongues 49 are barrels 51 for a longitudinally disposed rod 52, said rod having one end thereof mounted in the upper end of the pitman 38 and the opposite end thereof mounted in a pitman-53 slidable in a bearing 54,

carried by the outer side of the end frame 1. The pitmen 38 and 53 are similar, the pitman 53 having the lower end thereof prof vided with a roller 55 extending into a cam groove 56 in the outer side of a cam 57 mounted upon the end of the drive shaft 43, as best showny in Figs. 1 and 2. The cam grooves 41 and 56 are identical in contour Vand their purpose will be more fully understood in connection withva rsum of the general operation of the machine.

Loosely mounted'in the lower bifureated ends of the tongues 49.by bolts 58 and nuts 59 are the ends of a mandrel follower 60 adjustably held beneath the head 50. The follower 60 is adjusted by screw bolts 61 screwed into bosses 62 of the head 50, said screw bolts having the heads thereof loosely held in sockets 63 provided therefor in the upper edge ofthe follower. Vhen the bolts 58 and nuts59 are loose the follower GOy can be raised and lowered relatively to the head 50 and when properly adjusted the bolts 58 and nuts 59 can be tightened to firmly hold the follower 60. In the initial formation of the blank the follower is adapted to coperate with the. mandrel 32 in shaping the blank, and then at a later period the follower is adapted to closea seam of a tube formed of the blank. y

Tube overlapping members and their ae- :mating means, (Figs. 1, 3 and 4.)-At the ends of the dies 8 and 9, abutting the inner sides of the guides 5 and 6, arel transverse sets of sec-tional guides 64 providing angularly disposed guide grooves 65 cooperating with'the upper beveled edges of the walls 7 of the bed plate 4 in supporting coperating lateral members 66 and 67 employed for overlapping the edges of the blank 19. The member 66 is adapted to move inwardly in advance of the member 67 and the member 66 has a concave edge 68 which provides clearance for an-edge of the blank operated upon by the fiat beveled edge 69 of the member 67. The members 66 and 67 have the outer edges thereof adjustably connected to angle plates 70 provided' with sets of apertured ears 71. The apertured ears 71 'are suitably connected by bolts 72 to the upperslotted ends of arms 73 and 74 fulcrumed `upon longitudinally'disposed rods 75 conj necting the end frames 1 and 2. It is preferable to use two sets of'arms with the arms of each set opposing. The lower ends of the arms are bent outwardly and provided with `transverse pins -76 and the ends of one pin are connected to the ends of the pin of the opposing arm by coiled retractile springs 77 thereby providing means for holding the members 66 and 67 in retract-ed positions. The two sets of arms are identical in construction and considering the arms of one set, the lower ends of the arms are provided with rollers 78 and 79, the roller 78 of the arm .74 being on a side opposite that of the roller 79 of the arm 73, whereby said rollers' can be engaged by cams 80 and 81 mounted upon the drive shaft 43. These cams are of such dimension that the member 66 will be actuated in advance of the member 67, al-

' though such movement is hardly perceptible f during the operation of the machine.

' Tube cjectmand its operating mechanism, Figs. 1 and 4 to 7 inclusive.)-In connection with the mandrel 32, it was mentioned that the groove 35 was dovetailed and the purpose of this groove is to hold a longitudinallreciprocable tube ejector 82 which has the bottom'side thereof provided with a rack 83. This rack meshes with a pinion 84 mounted upon a shaft 85 journaled in the bifurcated extension 36 of the lmandrel holder 29. One end of the-shaft 85 has a .beveled gear wheel 86 meshing with a horizontally disposed beveled gear wheel 87 mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 88 supported by .a collar 89 on a depending bearing 90 of the holder 29. The lower end of the revoluble shaftv 88 extends into a clutch barrel 91 and said clutch barrel is sleeved upon a shaft 92, journaled in .bearings' 93. carried by the outer side of the end frame '2. The shaft 92, between the bearings 93. has a Worm 94 lmeshing with a gear wheel 95 on the driveA shaft 43.y The shaft 92":has a lfixed clutch 1neinber96 adapted to be engaged byA the clutchl member 97 of the sleeve 91, and said sleeve is adapted' to imdinal slots 99 in the clutch lsleeve 91. The

upper end of the clutch sleeve'91 is provided with a collar 100 and loosely engaging said collar is an arm 101 ofa vertically disposed post 102 slidable in the bearing 39 of the end frame 2. The lower end of thepost 102 has a rollery 103 adapted to be engaged by a cam rib 104 on the periphery ofthe cam 42, yas best,'shown in Fig. 6. With the roller 103 in engagement with the cam rib 104 they clutch sleeve 91 is held in an elevated position and the clutch members 96 and' 97 are separated, consequently the shaft 92 can be'revolved independent of the shaft 88, thereby vallowing the tube ejector to remain inactive lduring' certain formative stages of a tube. Assuming however, that the clutch sleeve 91 is in a lowered position, the shafts 88 and 92 are driven in lsynchronism and the tube ejector 82 is shifted longitudinally of the mandrel 32. In order to provide clearance for a tube and the tube ejector 82, the pitmen 38 and 53 are provided with slots 105 and the guide 5 has an opening 106 longitudinally alining with the opening 25 in the guide 6. So far means have been described lfor movingl the ejector 82 whereby a. tube on the mandrel 32 can be ejected, and to restore the ejector 82 to a normal or retracted position, the outer end of the ejector 82 has an arm 107 slidable upon a rod 108, and between the mandrel holder 29and the arm 107 is a coiled compression spring 109 which is placed under tension when the ejector 82 is shifted to an extended position, and when the clutch members 96 and/97 are'disconnected, the tension of the spring 109 is suiicient to withdraw the tube ejector 82 to a retracted Position. f

Controlling mechanism. of the machine (zml operation. of producing a tube, (Figs. 1, 13 to 17 inclusive.)-Slidably keyed. upon the guide shaft 43 is the hub 110 of a clutch member 11 adapted `to interlock with a clutch member 112 forming part of the large gear wheel 44, whereby said large gear wheel can be caused to impart a rotary movement to the drive shaft 43. .The hub '110 of the clutch member y1,11 has a circumferentially grooved collar 113 and loosely engaging said collar is a yoke 114 o f a crank 115 loose upon a treadle shaft 116` journaled in a bearing I117. carried plate 118 located at one side o f the machine.4` The treadleshaft 116 has a treidle'll?) and a crank 120. The crank 120 'has a pivoted dog 121 adapted to engage a lug 122 of the crank 1-15`aud said dog is connected by a the plate 118 by a coiled retractile springv ber 1111 The crank 127 has the outer end thereof hook-shaped to engage a pin 131 carried by the side of the crank 115.

lVhen the operator or attendant of the machine depresses the treadle 119, the shaft 116 is rocked and through the medium vof the'dog 121, the crank 115 is shifted to move the hub 110 of the clutch member 111 longitudinally of the drive shaft 43, thereby placing the clutch member in engagement with the clutch member 112 of the large gear wheel 44, causing rotative continuity of said large gear wheel and the driving shaft. As the hub 110 of the clutch member 11-is carried with the drive shaft 43, the cam 130 is moved out of engagement with the crank 128, and the crank 127 engages the pin 131, locking-the crank 115 whereby the clutch member 111 will be held in engagement with the clutch-member'112. ll'ith thefoot removed from the treadle 119,

l the coiled retractile spring 124 restores the treadle 116 and the crank 120 to normal position placing the spring 125 under additional tension to retract thecrank 115, when the crank 127 releases the pin 131. This is accomplished by the cam 130 of the clutch member 111 engaging the crank 128, elevating the crank 127 and allowing the spring 125 to restore the crank 115 to normal position. As the crank 115'assumes a normal position the dog 121 automatically rides into engagenxent with the'lug 122 and the hub 110 is held in a retracted position, there by disconnecting the clutch member and causing a cessation in the operation of the drive shaft 43.

Assuming thatf a blank has been. placed upon` the dies 8 and 9, the treadle 119 depressed, the drive shaft 43 is driven and through the medium of the cams 42 and 57 the pitmen 38 and 53 are lowered, allowing the mandrel 32 to descend by gravity and engage the blank. lVhile the blank holds the mandrel, the mandrel follower 60sl continues to descend and impinges the mandrel, asshown in Fig.` 15, forcing the mandrel between the dies 8 and 9 and thereby bending the blank to a channel` form. The shape of the cam grooves 41 and 56 are such that the pitmen 38 and 53 are not raised high enough atthe first lifting ,operation to raise the mandrel by engagement of they bracket 37 with the arm 36, consequently' the mandrel lis' only elevated,`during the second lifting` v66 bends one edge of the blank overy on to ythe mandrel above the upper longitudinal groove 34 of said mandrel. The member 67 bends the other edge of the blank over on to the mandrel withsaid edge overlapping the other edge of the blank, and with these overlapping flanged edges over the upper groove 34 of the mandrel, the follower 60 descends and forces the flanged edges of the blank into the groove, thereby clenching the same' with the bead ofthe seam within the groove of Vthe mandrel, thus providing a smooth periphery for the finished tube. During these operations Ithe post 102 has been held in an elevated position by the cam rib 104, but as the mandrel follower is retracted, the post 102 is lowered thereby placing the clutch members 96 and 97 in engagement and movement is imparted to the mandrel ejector 82 to force the finished tube off of the outer end of the mandrel.

The shape of the grooves in the large cams 42 and 57 at the ends of the drive shaft 43 and the position of the cams 80 and 81 of said shaft determine thel relative coperation of the mandrel, mandrel follower, tube overlapping members and tube ejector, and I have found that perfectly tapered tubes can be expeditiously and economically produced with these coperating devices and with one attendant at the machine.

1. A machine of the type described comprising dies, a mandrel adapted to pressa blank between said dies to a channel form, lateral opposed members adapted to move one in advance of the other and bend the edges of a blank on said mandrel, said ma drol having a longitudinal groove therein, a mandrel follower adapted 'to engage the l bent edges of'. the blank and force the same into the groove of said mandrel, and means actuated` at each end of the machine for=mov- Aing the mandrel follower and thereby the ated at each end of lthe ymachine for moving said mandrel follower and thereby the' mandrel.

3. A tube forming machine adapted to y.form 'a tapering tube froma blank, comprising a bed plate, dies v`lon said bed plate'a grooved tapering mandrel adapted to engage a blank on said dies, a mandrel follower adapted to engage said mandrel and forcesaid blank and mandrel'between said dies whereby said vblank assumes a channel shape, members adapted to bend the edges of said blank on to said mandrel, and means in a groove of said mandrel adapted to eject a tube therefrom. a

4. A tube forming machine adapted to form atapering tube from a blank, comprising dies, a mandrel adapted to descend by gravity and engage a blank on said dies, a mandrel follower adapted to engage said mandrel and force said blank and mandrel between said dies whereby said blank as' horizontal plane, a-tapering mandrel nor-I mally held above said dies Iand adapted to descend by gravity on to a blank on said flanged edges,fcomprisin dies, a mandrel follower adapted to force said mandrel between said dies whereby the blank is formed on said mandrel, and actuating means for said mandrel follower normally supporting said mandrel and movable independently thereof whereby said mandrel follower may recede after forcing said mandrel between said dies.

6. A tube forming machine adapted to form a tapering tube from a blank having flanged edges, comprising dies, a grooved mandrel, a mandrel follower adapted to move said mandrel between said dies to impart a channel form to said blank, members movable one in advanceof the other adapted to bend the edges of said blank over a groove of said mandrel', and cams adapted to move said mandrel follower from said mandrel to provide clearance for the operation of said members and toward said mandrel after the bending operation df said members to clench the anged edges of said blank in a groove of said mandrel.

7. A tube forming. machine adapted to form a tapering tube from a blank Ihaving dies, a grooved mandrel, a mandrel fo ower adapted to move said mandrel between said dies to impart a channl'form to said blank, movable members adapted to bend the edges of said blank over the groove of said mandrel, cams adapted to move said mandrel follower from said mandrel toprovide clearance for the operation of said members and toward said mandrel after the bending operation of said members to clench the flanged edges of said edges, comprising dies, a grooved mandrel,

a mandrel follower adapted to move said mandrel between said dies to impart a channel form to said blank, members adapted to bend the edges of said blank over a groove of said mandrel, cams adapted to move said mandrel follower from said mandrel to provvide clearance for the operation of said members and toward said mandrel after the bending operation of said members to clench the flanged edges of said blank in a groove of said mandrel, means adapted to impart movement to said cams, means adapted to automatically cause a cessation in the operation of said cams, and means in another groove of said mandrel `operated by said cam 'moving means and controlled by one of said cams adapted to ejecta tube from said mandrel.

9. In a tube forming machine embodying dies, a mandrel adapted to descend by grav-- ity on to a blank, a mandrel follower, follower moving means supporting saidcman-A 4drel and adapted to release said mandrel and cause said follower to further move said mandrel between said dies whereby a blank is shaped on said mandrel between 4 said dies; a slidable ejector normally in one end of said mandrel and adapted to eject a tube therefrom, means actuated by said mandrel moving means adapted to move said ejector' in one direction, and means independent of said mandrel moving means adapted to move said ejector in an opposite direction.

10. In a tube forming' machine *embodying dies, a mandrel, a. mandrel follower, means actuated at each end of said machine formoving said mandrel audits follower whereby a blank is shaped on said mandrel between said dies; a slidable ejector normally vin an end of said mandrel and adapted to eject a tube therefrom, means including a rack and pinion actuated by said man- J drel moving means adapted to move said ejector in one dlrection, means lndependent of said mandrel moving means adapted to move said ejector in an opposite direction, and means associated withlfthe mandrel moving means at one end of said machine adapted to automatically cause a cessation in thev operation of the first mentioned ejector moving means.

11. In a machine, for producing tapered tubes, dies adapted to supporta blank in a horizontal Plane, a tapering mandrel normally held above said dies and adapted to descend by gravity on to a blank on said dies, a mandrel follower adapted to force Said mandrel between said dies whereby the 5 blank is formed on Said mandrel, actuating 10 drel between said dies, and members adapted to operate on the formed blank during an elevation of said mandrel follower independently of said mandrel.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN W. STOLER.

lVitnesses KARL H. BUTLER, AisNA M. Donn. 

